Ice Core Record Variations of Atmospheric Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, and Pb Isotopes During the Past 800 Years in Mount Everest

Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb concentrations and Pb isotopic composition were measured in high-altitude Mount Everest ice cores, spanning an 800-year period from 1205 to 2002 ad in order to evaluate the extent to which human activities have affected the natural atmospheric cycles of these elements in Central A...

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Main Authors: Hong, S., Lee, K., Do Hur, S., Hou, S., Nunes, Laurie, Boutron, C., Barbante, C.
Format: Conference Paper
Published: Maralte B.V. 2012
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/7193
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author Hong, S.
Lee, K.
Do Hur, S.
Hou, S.
Nunes, Laurie
Boutron, C.
Barbante, C.
author_facet Hong, S.
Lee, K.
Do Hur, S.
Hou, S.
Nunes, Laurie
Boutron, C.
Barbante, C.
author_sort Hong, S.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb concentrations and Pb isotopic composition were measured in high-altitude Mount Everest ice cores, spanning an 800-year period from 1205 to 2002 ad in order to evaluate the extent to which human activities have affected the natural atmospheric cycles of these elements in Central Asia. The results show that concentrations of Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb in the remote Himalayan atmosphere were primarily of natural origin until the mid-20th century. Significant increases in crustal enrichment factors (EFs) in comparison with the average preanthropogenic EF value are observed for the measured metals during the recent decades, with contrasting time trends for the different metals. Such recent enhancements in EFs are attributed to massive anthropogenic emissions of Cu, Zn, and Cd mainly from combustion of fossil fuel and production of nonferrous metals, while increased emissions of Pb are attributed to combustion of fossil fuels as well as leaded gasoline usage in South Asia. Significant variations in the Pb EFs and 206Pb/207Pb isotope ratios starting from the 1970s characterize the unambiguous atmospheric Pb pollution and the time-dependent evolution of industrial Pb inputs as a result of industrial developments in South Asia.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-71932017-01-30T10:58:17Z Ice Core Record Variations of Atmospheric Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, and Pb Isotopes During the Past 800 Years in Mount Everest Hong, S. Lee, K. Do Hur, S. Hou, S. Nunes, Laurie Boutron, C. Barbante, C. south asia pb isotopes anthopogenic pollution ice core trace metals mount everest Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb concentrations and Pb isotopic composition were measured in high-altitude Mount Everest ice cores, spanning an 800-year period from 1205 to 2002 ad in order to evaluate the extent to which human activities have affected the natural atmospheric cycles of these elements in Central Asia. The results show that concentrations of Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb in the remote Himalayan atmosphere were primarily of natural origin until the mid-20th century. Significant increases in crustal enrichment factors (EFs) in comparison with the average preanthropogenic EF value are observed for the measured metals during the recent decades, with contrasting time trends for the different metals. Such recent enhancements in EFs are attributed to massive anthropogenic emissions of Cu, Zn, and Cd mainly from combustion of fossil fuel and production of nonferrous metals, while increased emissions of Pb are attributed to combustion of fossil fuels as well as leaded gasoline usage in South Asia. Significant variations in the Pb EFs and 206Pb/207Pb isotope ratios starting from the 1970s characterize the unambiguous atmospheric Pb pollution and the time-dependent evolution of industrial Pb inputs as a result of industrial developments in South Asia. 2012 Conference Paper http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/7193 Maralte B.V. restricted
spellingShingle south asia
pb isotopes
anthopogenic pollution
ice core
trace metals
mount everest
Hong, S.
Lee, K.
Do Hur, S.
Hou, S.
Nunes, Laurie
Boutron, C.
Barbante, C.
Ice Core Record Variations of Atmospheric Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, and Pb Isotopes During the Past 800 Years in Mount Everest
title Ice Core Record Variations of Atmospheric Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, and Pb Isotopes During the Past 800 Years in Mount Everest
title_full Ice Core Record Variations of Atmospheric Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, and Pb Isotopes During the Past 800 Years in Mount Everest
title_fullStr Ice Core Record Variations of Atmospheric Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, and Pb Isotopes During the Past 800 Years in Mount Everest
title_full_unstemmed Ice Core Record Variations of Atmospheric Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, and Pb Isotopes During the Past 800 Years in Mount Everest
title_short Ice Core Record Variations of Atmospheric Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, and Pb Isotopes During the Past 800 Years in Mount Everest
title_sort ice core record variations of atmospheric cu, zn, cd, pb, and pb isotopes during the past 800 years in mount everest
topic south asia
pb isotopes
anthopogenic pollution
ice core
trace metals
mount everest
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/7193